Section 121
Estoppel
Reviewed by Ravi Sisodia · Last reviewed 10 October 2026
Official text of section 121 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Chapter VIII: Estoppel), with the matching section of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872.
Section 121, official text
When one person has, by his declaration, act or omission, intentionally caused or permitted another person to believe a thing to be true and to act upon such belief, neither he nor his representative shall be allowed, in any suit or proceeding between himself and such person or his representative, to deny the truth of that thing.
Illustration. A intentionally and falsely leads B to believe that certain land belongs to A, and thereby induces B to buy and pay for it. The land afterwards becomes the property of A, and A seeks to set aside the sale on the ground that, at the time of the sale, he had no title. He must not be allowed to prove his want of title.
Source: The Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023 (Act 47 of 2023), Gazette of India Extraordinary, in force from 1 July 2024. The signed Gazette controls.
Compared with the Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Section 121 replaces Section 115 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (“Estoppel”). The wording is substantially the same as the earlier section. The 1872 Act was repealed by section 170 of the Adhiniyam, which saves proceedings pending on 1 July 2024.
Nearby sections
- Section 119 — Court may presume existence of certain facts
- Section 120 — Presumption as to absence of consent in certain prosecution for rape
- Section 122 — Estoppel of tenant and of licensee of person in possession
- Section 123 — Estoppel of acceptor of bill of exchange, bailee or licensee
Source and review trail
The text above is taken from the Gazette of India publication of the Act. Check later amendments and the signed Gazette before relying on it.
- Official text
- NCRB — Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, 2023, section 121